loops & threads® cozy blanket™ cozy crochet cat blanket

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: 26" [66 cm] x 28" [71 cm]
GAUGE: With A and larger hook, 4 sts x 3 rows = 4" [10.2 cm] in blanket pattern; With B and smaller hook, 7 sts x 8 rnds = 4" [10.2 cm] in pattern; save time and check your gauge
STITCH GUIDE:
 - Magic Ring: Wrap yarn around your left middle finger twice, leaving a 6" [15 cm] tail. Insert hook under both strands and pull up a loop. Ch 1, and beg working directly into centre of ring. This ring can be tightened later by pulling on the yarn tail.
 - Inv-Dec (Invisible Single Crochet Decrease): Insert hook in front loop only of each of next 2 sts, yo and draw through both sts, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook (1 st dec’d).
NOTES:
This cat blanket is made in three sections: blanket, head and paws. When working in continuous rounds, place a marker in first stitch to indicate beginning of the round. Move marker up as each round begins. To change colour, work to last yarn over, pick up new colour and pull through to complete stitch.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Blanket
With A and larger hook, ch 26.
Row 1: Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, *sl st in next ch, hdc in next ch; rep from * across, turn. (25 sts)
Row 2: Ch 2 (not a st), hdc in first st, sl st in next st, *hdc in next st, sl st in next st; rep from * across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sl st in first st, hdc in next st, *sl st in next st, hdc in next st; rep from * across, turn.
Rep Rows 2-3 until blanket measures 28" [71.1 cm].
Fasten off.

Head
With B and smaller hook, ch 2.
Rnd 1: 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook, do not join, work in continuous rnds.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (16 sc)
Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (24 sc)
Rnd 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (32 sc)
Rnd 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (40 sc)
Rnd 6: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (48 sc)
Rnds 7-17: Sc in each st around
Rnd 18: *Sc in next 4 sts, inv-dec; rep from * around. (40 sc)
Rnd 19: *Sc in next 3 sts, inv-dec; rep from * around. (32 sc)
Rnd 20: *Sc in next 2 sts, inv-dec; rep from * around. (24 sc)
Rnd 21: *Sc in next st, inv-dec; rep from * around. (18 sc)
Rnds 22-24: Sc in each st around.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Stuff head, leaving Rnds 22-24 unstuffed.
Thread needle with long end and sew Rnd 24 together in a flat line. Do not fasten off; leave a long tail for sewing on blanket.

Ears (Make 2)
With B and smaller hook, ch 2.
Rnd 1: 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, turn. (3 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st, turn. (5 sc)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in each st across.
Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

Nose
With B and smaller hook, ch 2.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join with sl st to first sc. (6 sc)  
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, *sc in next st, sc2tog, rep from * around, join with slip st to first sc. (8 sc)
Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Paws (Make 4)
Hand
With B and smaller hook, create a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring, do not join, work in continuous rnds. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: 2 sc in each st around. (24 sc)
Rnds 4-8: Sc in each st around.
Rnd 9: *Sc in next st inv-dec; rep from * around. (16 sc) Fasten off, join C.
Rnds 10-12: Sc in each st around.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Centre Pad
With D and smaller hook, create a magic ring.
Row 1: Ch 3, 2 dc in ring, ch 2, 3 dc in ring; do not join.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Paw Assembly
Sew centre pad on hand.
Thread needle with D and using photo as a guide, stitch 4 ‘toe pads’ evenly around centre pad.
Stuff hand lightly.

Eyes (Make 2)
With E and smaller hook, create a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring, do not join, work in continuous rnds. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2sc in each st around; join with sl st to first st.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Thread needle with C, add a short running stitch in a ‘V’ on eye for detail.

Collar
With C and smaller hook, ch 4.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (3 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, working in the front loop only, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, working in the back loop only, sc in each st across, turn.
Rows 4-11: Rep Rows 2-3.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Flower
With D and smaller hook, ch 20.
Row 1: Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, (ch 4, sl st in next st) 6 times, (ch 3, sl st in next st) 7 times, (ch 2, sl st in next st) 5 times.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Roll strip with ch-2 on top and ch-4 sps in back. Thread needle and sew rolled strip together.

FINISHING:
Using photo as a guide, sew eyes, nose and ears on head.
Thread needle with E, using photo as a guide stitch details on nose.
Sew head on blanket 5" [12.5 cm] below edge of last row.
Sew collar over sewn edge of head; tuck around each side of neck on head and stitch in place.
Sew flower on side of collar.
Sew 1 paw on each corner of blanket.
Sew edge of blanket along back of head to provide support.
Thread tapestry needle with E and stitch on whiskers.
Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS:
Beg = Begin(ning)
Ch = Chain
DC = Double Crochet
Dec’d = Decreased
Hdc = Half Double Crochet
Inv-Dec = Invisible Single Crochet Decrease
Rem = Remain(ing)
Rep = Repeat
Rnd(s) = Round(s)
Sc = Single Crochet
Sc2tog = Single Crochet 2 Together
Sk = Skip
Sl st = Slip Stitch
Sp(s) = Space(es)
St(s) = Stitch(es)
Yo = Yarn Over

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